Two PSAL Teams Shock & Awe @ Conrad McRae

BROOKLYN, NY – The PSAL season may be still off in a distance but on Saturday in the Conrad McRae Youth League, two historically dominant Kings County teams served notice for re-admission into the top tier Brooklyn PSAL team conversation. In a competitive field that included some of the best Catholic and Public Schools in the city, one PSAL team made it to the semifinals while the other is in Sunday’s championship.

The Boys & Girls Kangaroos were one of the most prevalent powerhouses during the not so distant past but not some much for the past couple of seasons. Boys & Girls changed the narrative on Saturday and throughout the tournament as the gutty team dropped its patented defense on opponents with much success. The Roos defense has a constricting effect as Dozo would soon learn.

Dorian Haynes and Javen Soto ‘18 come out with a blistering offensive barrage for Dozo but Boys & Girls countered with a balanced team attack led by Richard Martelli ‘18 and David Petit-Homme ‘18. At the half, the Judges lead 23 -22.

The game remained close throughout the second half until Marcus Hammond ‘18 and Taj Anderson ‘19 began to light up the sky with buckets, giving Cardozo a 9-point advantage with about two minutes remaining in regulation. Petit-Homme stepped up late along with Marcus Patterson ‘19 to tie the game at 46 apiece and with 20 seconds on the clock, Khalif Napoleon ‘19 came up clutch, scoring his only points of the game to give Boys & Girls a two-point lead. Anderson had a chance to tie but in his zeal committed an offensive foul that sealed Cardozo’s fate.

Petit-Homme led Boys & Girls with 10 points with Patterson contributing 9 points. Haynes and Soto paced Cardozo with 12 points apiece.

While Boys & Girls made a statement with that quarterfinals win, they would be barely eliminated by Prep 4 Preps, 51 – 48 in the semifinals.

The Vikings of South Shore seem to have found its horns after being hatless for quite a few seasons. This new and improve South Shore squad confident laid waste two quality teams in Thomas Jefferson and Christ the King in the quarters and semis respectively.

Vs. Jefferson

In the quarterfinals, led by 6’4” Sekou Sylla ’18, Shore Shocked Jefferson by extending to an 8-point half time lead. They then finished their rival off with a 52 – 38 victory.

Sylla led all scorers with 24 points. Marcus Burnett ‘19 was the high man for Jefferson with 14 points.

Vs. Christ the King

In the semifinal round, the Vikings went up against a fully-loaded Christ the King team sans vacationing big man Kofi Cockburn ‘19. Still formidable, South Shore was clearly up for the challenge.

Once again led by Sylla’s 22 points with help from Femi Odukale '19, South Shore narrowly edged out a relentless Royals team, 62 - 60 paced by Ryan Myers ‘19 15 points

South Shore will play Preps 4 Prep in the championship @ 4pm